I think online dating is brilliant. I think it can be a way of "editing" out the people you aren't really going to gel with because you get a preview chance to chat a bit and you likely will get a feel about if you might want to actually date them. For men too this is nice because you don't have to lay out some money on a date (gross assumption I know, but reality) for someone you already kinda know isn't your cup of tea.

I don't actually think it's any different than really "old school" courting someone with letters. I think it can be rather charming and romantic and a way to really fall in like/love with someone's brain and not their appearance.

The downside however can be pretty gross too. I went through a separation in my marriage once a few years back that lasted about 10 months. I was curious and used POF just to see who was in my area. I was propositioned almost immediately by a few guys and it was obvious by their messages that they were just looking for a sexual hookup. They pushed me to send them "more pictures" which I never did, and they kind of got cheeky with their flirty talk and I just ended it knowing they weren't what I was after. I even received unsolicited pictures a few times from guys without their shirts etc. No thanks! I did however go on 2 very nice dates with men I don't think I ever would have met randomly in a bar or something.

I think this kind of dating is cool, I like it. I hope never to have to date again, but if I did I would do it this way for sure.

Barney, I wouldn't say connecting through online methods are "just the way it's done now" but it's pretty common, and many, but not all, people of a certain age have at least tried it. As I mentioned above, I met my wife through a dating site in 2003, but I can only think of one other couple in my circle of friends who met that way. One through church, and most of the rest at social gatherings or through mutual friends. People haven't abandoned the traditional ways of meeting someone. They're just not the only way anymore.

The main thing online dating offers is some relief from that "waiting for someone to come along". It lets people be a little more proactive.

My fervent hope is that you and your tax dollars will be reunited in the afterlife.

Captain Awesome wrote:Perhaps Castanet should open dating section of the website.

I have to ask myself if this would be a good idea or not and how would it look?

Would posters sign up and use their forum handles?Seems it would be easy to use the search function to go back on a decade of posts to see if this person is even of interest.Just think, decades of talking to people, analyzed like one is truly looking for a partner.All the liberals and conservatives could give each other a wide berth Sort out who supports what?And most of all, find out who plays fair. And who doesn't. Fairness on-line denotes fairness in life.

Or, would it be more desirable to use separate handles?

Could it be that a whole life can shift the day one starts telling the truth about what makes one happy?